Film splicer



Sept. 25, 1945. L FRANKEL 2,385,353

FILM SPLICER Filed March l, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l IVENTOR. en

Sept- 25, 1945 L.. FRANKEL l 2,385,353 A FILM SPLICER Filed March l, 1941 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 25, 1945 FILM SPLICER Leo Frankel, Chicago, ml., assigner, hy mesme asslents, to Franklin Photographic Industries, a limited partnership Application March ll, i941, Serial No. 381,255

7 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for splicing, trimming and scraping nlm preparatory to cementing ends thereof together, which apparatus, in the industry. is conventionally referred to as a splicer.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an improved splicer.

Another object is to produce a splicer which can be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price but which will function to perform the various operations required, at least as satisfactorily as much more expensive pieces of equipment.

Still another object is the provision of a splicer which will perform all of the necessary operations in joining two ends of hlm with only a minimum expenditure of time.

A. further object is the provision of a splicer wherein the amount of time involved in bringing the ends of the film together after the cementing operation is exceedingly short whereby there `is no opportunity for the cement to dry before the lms are joined, and a permanent splice will be obtained.

Still a further object is the provision of a splicer having an improved and compact arrangement with respect to the lm trimming, scraping and joining portions of the apparatus,

Other specific objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a consideration oi the following vdetailed description, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. i is a perspective view of a splicer made in accordance with my invention, the parts being in the position which they assume at the start of a splicing operation;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the same angle as Fig. l but with the parts in the position which they occupy just before the final operation of trimming and splicing the film;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the position which the scraper assembly assumes during the scraping operation;

Fig. l is a front elevational view showing the position of the parts just before the completion of the nal operation; and

Fig. 5 is'an enlarged sectional view taken lon-- gitudlnally of the lm and through the shearing blades showing the manner in which the film is cut and held together.

In accordance with. the main features of the invention, I provide a base or frame member having two iilm holding assemblies normally occupying adjacent positions, but one of such film holding assemblies being hinged to the base or trame member so that it may be swung away from the other lm holding assembly. Each film holding assembly is provided with a hinged clamping plate by means of which a section of film is held in position. The nlm holding assembly which is stationary on the frame or base member carries a scraper by means of which one nlm end may be scraped when the nlm holding assembly hinged to the base member is swung out of position. The scraper is hinged or mounted on a bar or rod running transversely of the film, and is spring pressed to move it so as normally to bring the abrading portion of the scraper in a direction to permit it to engage the nlm. Latching means, which may be associated with or form a partof the clamping plate, serves to hold the scraper out of contact with the film, the spring means being operatively connected to the scraper and tending to move it longitudinally of the axis of the bar so as to hold it in engagement under the latching means. Each of the nlm holding assemblies is provided with a straight edge and a shearing member, the shearing member of one cooperating with the straight edge of the other, and the mutually cooperating shearing members and straight edges being spaced from each other a distance equal to the width of the splice, the parts being so construcd and arranged that the ends of both lm sections are trimmed as the hinged nlm holding assembly is swung on its pivot into horizontal position.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment there shown comprises a base i which may be suitably formed by a stamping operation, although other means of fabrication may be employed. Secured to the base it are base V plates ll and l2 of nlm holding assemblies, the former being rigidly secured to the base as by screws or rivets i3. The base plate i l is, therefore, xed and immovable on the base. The base plate 'l2 is provided with a pair of .upstanding ears it which lie adjacent upstanding ears or hinge pieces i6 struck up from the material of the base it or otherwise suitably provided for the intended purpose. Rivets l1, extending through the ears I4 and hinge pieces i6, act as pivots around which the entire nlm holding assembly, of which the base plate iziorms a. part, may be swung away from the base lll as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The base plate il has a downwardly sloping portion IB which lies in a recessed portionof the base It and is provided with extending hinge pieces I9 for attachment of a shearing and clamping plate 2|. The shearing and clamping plate 2| has a. pair of eers 22, and rivets 23, extending through the hinge pieces I9 and ears 22, pivotally mount the shearing and clamping plate 2l in position so that it may be swung away from the base plate I I or to a horizontal position where it will lie in face-to-face relation therewith.

The base plate I2 in a similar manner carries a shearing and clamping plate 24. The ears through which the pivotal connection is made are shown at 26, the hinge pieces forming a part of the base plate I2 are shown at 21, and the rivets pivotally securing them together are shown at 28.

Thus it will be seen that the lm holding assembliesl are adapted to support sections of nlm 29 and 3l, the ends of which are to be spliced, these lms being held or clamped between base plate I I and shearing and clamping plate 2l as in the case of the nlm section 23 and between the base plate I2 and shearing and clamping plate 24 in the case of the nlm 3l. The nlm, as shown, is provided with the usual marginal perfor-ations, and positioning projections 32 are provided on both of the base plates, these projections extending through the marginal perorations and holding the nlm in accurate position with the two sections in alignment. The positioning projections 32 may comprise pins inserted in the base plates, or they may be formed from the material of the base plates by a suitable tooling operation, if desired. Openings 33 are provided in the shearing and clamping plates to accommodate the positioning projections 32, it being understood that the material may be entirely removed to leave the holes 33 or merely formed up to toprovide a recess for the reception of such projections.

As previously noted, the splicer of my invention functions to shear the two ends of the two pieces of lm at the same time, and to this end I provide mutually cooperating shearing means on the two iilm holding assemblies. The shearing and clamping plate 2l has one edge formed up at substantially right angles toits body to provide a shearing member 34 adapted to cooperate with a straight edge 36 on the shearing and clamping plate 24. The shearing member 34 is triangular so that, when the fllm is engaged between the resulting top angular edge and the straight edge 36, there is a true shearing action starting at one edge of the nlm and progressing to the opposite edge, very similar to that of an ordinary pair of shears. The base plate l2 is similarly formed to provide a shearing member 31 adapted to cooperate with a straight edge 38 on the base plate Il to perform a similar shearing function of the other section of nlm. It will be noted also that the shearing member 34 is spaced from the straight edge 38 in a direction running longitudinally of the nlm, and a corresponding space is provided between the shearing member 31 and the straight edge 36. The iilm 29 is cut by the shearing member 31 cooperating with the straight edge 38 while the nlm 3l is cut by the shearing member 34 cooperating with the straight edge 36. This leaves the ends of the nlms, after the cutting operation, in overlapping relation as may be clearly seen from a study of Figs. 4 and 5.

It is a common practice when operating with photographic lm to scrape the emulsion from that portion of the nlm where the splice is to be made, and, while this may be done by hand by means of a separate scraping tool, I have found that the necessary operations of splicing two sections of iilm together may be carried out to greater advantage by the utilization of a scraper formed as a part of the splicer and functioning with it in the performance of the necessary splicing functions. The scraper, as shown, is adapted to remove the emulsion only from that portion of the film 29 which is in overlapping relation with the nlm 3l after the two ends have been sly multaneously cut in the manner pointed out.

A pair of mountingtabs 39 extend upwardly from the shearing and clamping plate 2| and carry a small rod or bar 4| on which the scraper, in the illustrative embodiment here shown, is mounted. The scraper has a cylindrical portion 42 which ts around the rod 4I snugly but not suicently tightly to prevent free movement thereon. The cylindrical portion is part of a generally U-shaped member 43 which carries an abrading member 46, which may be a separately formed member having one edge finished as a iile or rasp, and on opposite sides of the scraper 44 right angular nger grip portions 48. Conveniently the portions 48 may be part of the same piece comprising the U-shaped member 43, this being the construction illustrated in the drawings. A coil spring 41 has one end secured to the mounting tab 33 and the other end secured to the U- shaped member 43, the tension in the spring being such that the scraper assembly normally is urged pivotally around the rod 4I in a direction to cause the abrading member to engage the illm longitudinally of the rod 4l. The spring, in other words, is under tension in the position shown in Fig. 3, but, if the scraper in the posi- .tion shown in Fig. 3 were released, its only movement would be longitudinally-.ot the rod 4I. To hold the scraperin inoperative position, against the action of the spring, as shown in Fig. 2, I v

provide a locking tab 48 under which the horizontal portion of one of the angular portions 4t is engaged. Since the spring tends to move the scraper longitudinallyof the rod 4I when the scraper is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the spring will hold the scraper in contact with the locking tab 4B. The locking tab also prevents the scraper from rotating under action of the spring around the rod 4l. In use, the scraper is in the position shown in Fig. 3, it being necessary only to move it back and forth across the lm to remove the emulsion from the portion of the nlm 29 which is to be part oi' the splice, it being understood, of course, that the' nlm sections are mounted in the splicer with the emulsion side up.

Another function of the splicer of my invention is to hold the lm sections together after 'Y the cement has been applied and during the time necessary for the cement to dry. The shearing and clamping plate 2! is held in position by providing a latching tab 5I which may be formed from the material of the said shearing and clamping plate by a suitable tooling operation, which latching tab engages over the edge of the base plate II in such a manner as to hold the shearing and clamping plate tightly against the base plate I I, thereby securely clamping the lm section 29 in position. It will he noted that a portion of the base I0 is recessed at 52 to provide an opening into which the latching tab 5I may extend. It will be noted also that the shearing and clamping plate 2l overlaps the base I0 slightly so that the edge thereof is readily available for engagement by th'e fingers to release it and move it to an open position to withdraw the film.

The shearing and clamping plate 24 is provided With a similar latching tab 53 which engages over the edge. of the base plate I2 and extends into a recess. 54 provided at the proper posltion in the base I0. 'Ihe shearing and clamping plate 24 also overlaps the base IU so that it may be grasped readily with th'e lingers to move it upwardly about its pivots. A projection or extending tab 56 on the-'base plate i2 extends slightly beyond the edge of the shearing and clamping plate 24 as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 2. The projection 56 is spaced substantially the maximum distance from the rivets il, and is suiiiciently narrow so that it does not prevent free access to the front edge of the shearing and clamping plate 2l. Thus, it will be noted that the three hinged members may be so constructed and arranged as to be held tightly in iilm clamping position, but they are` readily swung on their respective pivots due to the fact that, in each instance, the member may be engaged with the fingers at substantially the maximum distance away from th'e pivot. This provides for easy operation. In addition, the projection 56 serves to facilitate lifting of the shearing and clamping plate 24 while holding the base plate it against movement thereby insuring against accidental breaking of a splice should there otherwise be any tendency for the base plate i2 to be moved when the shearing and clamping plate 2t is raised after a splicing operation has been completed.

While the device of my invention may take different forms. I have found that the form specifically shown and described in detail has the advantage of being simply and inexpensively made and very easily and quickly operated by Y any amateur. In making a splice, the following operations are performed:

At the start, the two shearing and clamping plates 2t and 2t are raised to the position shown -in Fig. 1, and the nlm is mounted in position on the base plate l2, with the emulsion side up, for example, as shown in Fig. l. In this connection, it should be noted that the device may be built to accommodate various sizes of nlm, a desirable arrangement being to provide for 8 mm. nlm, 16 mm. nlm and 16 mm. lm with a sound track. When the nlm section 3i has been placed in position, as shown, the shearing and clamping plate 2i is pressed downwardly `until the latching tab t3 is engaged, thereby holding the iilm section tightly in position. The nlm holder assembly, comprising the base plate it and shearing and clamping plate 2t. is then swung bodily around its pivots until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, the projection 5t being grasped with the thumb or nger for the purpose. The llm section 2d is then placed in position with the emulsion side up, and the shearing and clamping plate il lowered to clamp the nlm. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position. it will be noted that the torn ends of the lm sections project beyond the cutting zones, and the ends remain untrimmed or uncut. The next operation is to release the scraper, grasp it with the thumb and fingers when'it is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and rub it across the lm section 29 so that the abradlng surface thereof in contact with the lm will remove the emulsion. If desired, the emulsion may be moistened slightly to facilitate its removal. When the emulsion has been removed, the scraper is returned to its inoperative position, and cement is applied to the portion of the film from which the emulsion was removed, The iilm holding assembly, comprising the base plate i2 and shearing and clamping plate 24, is then swung to a horizontal position through the position shown in Fig. 4 and finally to the position shown in enlarged fragmentary section in Fig. 5. Both ends oi.' the iilmv are cut by the mutually cooperating shear members and cutting edges previously described and, as th'e film is cut, the two overlapping ends are brought together with the thin layer oi.' cement between them, and are held in this position without further attention from the operator. It will be seen by examining Fig. 5 that the pairs of mutually cooperating members comprising the base members and shearing and clamping plates of the ilm holders having a close sliding ilt also have a clamping action so that the film holder carrying the lm section 3| is held securely in horizontal position and the two lm ends are tightly clamped together.

One of the very great advantages oi the splicer of my invention is the simple and rapid operations which it performs. Cement used for splicing motion picture nlm dries very rapidly, and, unless the nlm ends can be brought together very quickly after the cement has been applied, a poor splice is often made because the surface may dry before the iilm has been brought together. The number of distinct movements or operations which must be performed to edect a complete splicing operation is the minimum, and the film ends may be brought together in truly aligned position almost instantly after the application of the cement. The hlm holding assembly. comprising the base plate I2 and clamping plate 2t, is supported on a fixed pivot with respect to the xed nlm holding assembly, so that the two pairs of cutting members operate as'-a,mere incident to moving the pivoted film holding assembly to horizontal position. The cooperating cutting members are adjusted so that they meet the straight edges in cutting relation. Adjustment may be made by adjusting the position of the relatively xed lm holding assembly toward or away from the pivoted lm holding assembly, or by bending either one or both of the cutting members 34 and 31 toward or away from the straight edges with which they cooperate. The construction and support of the scraper has several distinct advantages. The scraper is nor. mally urged by the spring to pivot or roel: toward the exposed portion ol the nlm where the splice occurs, and also axially of the rod Il. This axial movement serves to hold the scraper in inoperative position by means of the latch 48, but, to release it from engagement by the latch, it is necessary merely to draw it away from operative engagement with said latch. When free of the latch it rocks about the axis of the rod, but will not strike the film to mar or deface it. The scraper is latched in an inoperative position by rocking against 'the action of the spring and allowing the spring to carry it into engagement with the latch,

I do not wish to limit my invention to the details shown and described except in so far as such details are included Within the scope of th'e appended claims;

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A lm splicer comprising a pair of film holding assemblies, each including a base plate and a clamping plate, a rod supported on one clamping plate transversely of a illm held thereby, a nlm scraper mounted on said rod and having a lilm abrading portion positioned to engage an exposed portion of a lilm near the clamping plate, a spring disposed between the scraper and clamping plate ltensioned normally to rock said scraper toward the said exposed portion of tllm into scraping position and bodily along the axis of the rod, and latch means on the clamping plate for preventing rocking of the scraper toward said exposed portion of iilm when the scraper is not in use.

2. A rllm splicer comprising a lm holding assembly including a base plate and a clamping plate, a rod supported on said clamping plate transversely of a lm held thereby, a scraper mounted on said rod and having a film a'brading portion positioned to engage an exposed portion of iilm near the clamping plate, a spring disposed between the scraper and clamping plate tensioned normally to rock said scraper toward the said exposed portion of iilm into scraping position and bodily along the axis of the rod, and latch means on the clamping plate for preventing rocking of the scraper toward said exposed portion of lm when the scraper is not in use.

3.- A iilm splicer including a iilrn holding assembly comprising a base plate and a cooperating clamping plate, a scraper supported on and movable axially of a pivot carried by said clamping plate, a spring normally urging said scraper about its pivot into iiim scraping position toward an exposed portion of the lm extending from beneath said clamping plate, and latch means carried by the said clamping plate for engaging the scraper to prevent its being rocked about its pivot by said spring when the scraper is not in use.

4. A lm splicer including a lm holding assembly comprising a base plate and a clamping plate, a rod supported transversely of a illm held in position Within said lm holding assembly, a lm scraper mounted on said rod and having a film abrading portion positioned to engage an exposed portion of a lm near the clamping plate, a spring disposed around said rod and operatively attached to said scraper, said spring being tensioned normally to rock said scraper toward. the said exposed portion of iilm into scraping position and bodily in a directionV along the axis of the rod, and latch means for preventing rocking of the scraper toward said exposed portion of iilm when the scraper is not in use.

5. A lm splicer comprising a pair of tllm holding assemblies, each including a base plate, and a clamping plate, a rod supported transversely of a illm held within the film holding assemblies, a scraper attached to said rod and having a film abrading portion positioned to engage an exposed portion of lm extending from between one of the Ybase plates and its cooperating clamping plate, a

spring' cooperating with the scraper tensioned normally to rock said rod and scraper toward the said exposed portion of film into scraping position and longitudinally of the axis of the rod, and latch means for preventing rocking of the scraper toward said exposed portion of iilm when the scraper is not in use.

6. A illm splicer including a film holding assembly comprising a base plate and a cooperating clamping plate, said base plate being provided with a straight edge, a rod carried by said clamping plate, said rod being parallel to said straight edge, a scraper mounted on said rod and bodily movable longitudinally of the axis thereof,l a spring coiled around said rod and engaging said scraper normally to move it axially of the rod and concomitantly rock it toward an exposed portion of film into scraping position, and means carried by the said clamping plate for preventing such rocking motion of the scraper when the scraper is not in use.

7. A film splicer including a film holding assembly comprising a base plate and a cooperating clamping plate, said base plate being provided with a straight edge, a rod carried by said clamping plate, said rod being parallel to said straight edge, a scraper mounted on said rod and bodily movable along the axis thereof, a spring coiled around said rod and engaging said scraper normally to rock .it toward an exposed portion of film into film scraping position and also to move it axially of the rod, and means carried by said clamping plate for preventing such rocking motion of the scraper when the latter is not in use, said means comprising a lug projecting upwardly from the clamping plate, the scraper having a portion held in engagement under said lug by the axial -movement of the scraper by said spring.

LEO FRANKEL. 

